[Question #11081] Kissing
17 months ago
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Hi Doctors,
Thank you for your continued service.
I went to a brothel and met a prostitute. The only things that happened are:
a. We kissed each other deeply. She literally kissed, licked, and sucked my entire face firmly, making my face wet. I felt that my nose, eyes, and ears were all wet.
b. She gave me a handjob.
I understand that b is a no-risk event. I also understand that kissing is a no-risk event with regard to HIV. However, assuming that her fluids in her mouth (saliva, and potentially blood if she had mouth sores, bleeding gums, etc.) entered not only my mouth but also my eyes, ears, and nose, do I need to worry about HIV?
If anything above is unclear, please let me know.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services.
Certain infections are called "sexually transmitted" because sex itself is required for transmission -- and with very few exceptions, that means sexual intercourse. You can safely believe that until and unless a penis goes into another person's vagina, rectum or mouth, there is no risk of HIV or any other STD. Kissing is zero risk, including the extended kind of oral exposure you describe. Saliva rarely transmits STDs or HIV -- in fact, saliva kills HIV; even swallowing HIV infected blood or genital fluids carries very little risk of infection. And no STDs or HIV are transmitted by hand-genital contact. You should not worry at all and do not need testing for anything.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if there is anything you don't understand.
HHH, MD
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17 months ago
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Thank you very much, Dr. HHH.
I have some follow-up questions. If I engage in vaginal and anal masturbation with a woman and my hand becomes contaminated with vaginal secretions and blood, then I touch and rub my eyes, and pick my nose, is there an HIV risk?
I understand that both vaginal and anal fingering of others pose no risk, so I haven’t paid special attention when engaging in these activities with my past few partners (mostly sex workers). As a result, I’m uncertain whether the situation described above has occurred.
If the situation I described has indeed happened, what are my risks? Can I continue my life without testing for anything?
I now avoid vaginal and anal sex with sex workers entirely because I want to limit myself to no-risk events, aiming to reduce the frequency of testing to alleviate my anxiety.
If I abstain from penetrative sex, do you have any recommendations for precautions during no-risk events (such as kissing and mutual masturbation)?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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Nobody can say the indirect sort of contact you describe -- contact of eyes or nose lining with secretions on your fingers -- is zero risk. But it's a good bet no such transmission of HIV has ever occurred and I would judge it to be zero risk for all practical purposes. Because you "now avoid vaginal and anal sex with sex workers", you are not at risk for HIV and I see no need for you ever to be tested for HIV as long as you continue to not have such contacts. I have nothing more to say about "precautions during no-risk events."---
17 months ago
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Thank you very much.
Just to make sure I understand you correctly: If I scratched and rubbed my eyes with my nails and fingers (because my eyes were itchy) immediately after fingering sex workers’ anuses and vaginas, my risk of contracting HIV from these events was zero for all practical purposes, and therefore, I don't need to test for HIV.
Do you agree with my statement?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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Repeat question. Re-read my comment above "Nobody can say...." Scratching and rubbing doesn't change anything.
Don't overthink it. Just don't have unprotected vaginal or anal sex -- that's all you need to do to avoid HIV for a lifetime. If you remain nervous about it, continue to avoid penetrative sex even with condoms. Also consider re-reading your previous thread a year ago (#9605).
---That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. Please note the forum policy against repeated questions on the same topic. This one being pretty much the same as previously, let's make it your last about sexual safety and HIV -- OK? Thanks for your understanding. I do hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.